In silence, with flowers, personal words and appeals, Halle recalls one of the worst attacks in Germany.
Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Haseloff warns urgently against the trivialization of right-wing extremist violence.
Halle - Two years after the terrorist attack in Halle, the city has thought of the victims and their bereaved.
Hundreds of people paused for minutes on Saturday in the market square.
In addition, the bells of the market church and the red tower rang from 12:04 p.m.
At that time, on October 9, 2019, the heavily armed right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic assassin tried to cause a bloodbath in the fully occupied synagogue of the Jewish community in Halle on the highest Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur.
also read
Mission in front of the synagogue completed: police still on site
The special measures taken by the police in front of the Hagen synagogue were completed during the night.
“No evidence of a hazard could be found on site,” said the Dortmund police on Thursday morning.
The police are still present: a dpa photographer reported in the morning of several patrol cars near the synagogue and of officers who were armed with submachine guns.
Mission in front of the synagogue completed: police still on site
More people are involved in volunteer fire brigades
During the past year, volunteer fire brigades went out 59 times a day on fire missions.
There were even more in previous years.
But one number rose significantly, much to the displeasure of the interior minister.
More people are involved in volunteer fire brigades
Corona step model is coming: 2G for gastronomy?
Bremen is right at the top of the country comparison when it comes to the vaccination rate, but comes last when it comes to the incidence rate.
The smallest country announced a phased model and is promoting a "departure after the pandemic".
Corona step model is coming: 2G for gastronomy?
When he did not succeed, he shot 40-year-old Jana L on the street. A little later he killed 20-year-old Kevin S. in a kebab shop.
On his escape, he seriously injured several people.
Wreaths, wreaths and flowers were now laid at the attack sites.
"Our special memory goes to the victims and their relatives, for whom the perpetrator brought endless suffering," said Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) in front of the synagogue.
Representatives of initiatives that support those affected and survivors of the attack called for more support from politics and civil society. The Federal Government Commissioner for the Concerns of Victims and Survivors of Terrorist Offenses in Germany, Edgar Franke, assured help. It is important to process what has happened - today and for many years to come. During the attack, many people were scared to death for hours; according to victims' representatives, they are still severely traumatized to this day.
Haseloff said October 9, 2019 was a turning point for the state and all of Germany.
He warned society against forgetting and playing down right-wing extremist violence.
“We can't leave that unchallenged,” he said.
“Let's draw a red line of decency together.
We have to consistently oppose defamation of the other, and we have to stand up to right-wing extremists together ”.
Halle's mayor Egbert Geier (SPD) emphasized that the attack left a deep wound and scar in the city.
"Anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance have no place in Halle," he said.
An open, colorful society is important.
Prime Minister Haseloff said he was concerned that anti-Semitism and racism would continue to spread even in the midst of society. This can be seen not only in social networks, but also in face-to-face conversations. “The limit of what can be said is shifting in a way that we would not have thought possible ten or 15 years ago”. The change and brutalization of the language is a warning signal. The attack in Halle shows that word and deed are not far from each other.
October 9, 2019 underlined the importance of keeping the memory of the Shoah alive and passing it on from generation to generation.
Not only the schools would have to take care of this, but also families, friends, clubs, associations and parties.
In Halle meanwhile, actions and vigils to commemorate the victims of the attack and rallies were planned until the evening.
dpa